What They Mean About Your Health ?

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed those vertical ridges on my nails becoming more prominent. It really hit me when I saw the photos from my pumpkin cheesecake dip recipe, where my thumb (and those ridges) were on full display, holding a Nilla wafer. That’s when I decided to do some research to find out if these lines meant anything about my health and whether there was anything I could do to get rid of them.

What Do They Mean About Your Health?

After doing some digging, I discovered that while it’s rare, vertical ridges can sometimes indicate an underlying health issue or nail trauma. However, for most of us, especially as we age, they are completely normal—particularly if you have dry skin or conditions like eczema.

At 36, these ridges have only recently started to bother me, but I’m relieved to know that, most likely, they’re harmless. It’s just a natural part of getting older. 🙂

But Why Do They Appear?

Think of them as wrinkles for your nails! As we age, the nail matrix loses some of its effectiveness, causing the nails to grow unevenly, which leads to those lines or ridges running from the cuticle to the tip.

However, deficiencies in nutrients like protein, zinc, calcium, or vitamin A can also contribute to these ridges or make them worse. If your ridges are deep or accompanied by other health issues, a blood test might be a good idea to rule out any underlying deficiencies.

How to Lessen the Appearance of Vertical Ridges

The best way to minimize the appearance of those lines is to keep your hands and nails well-moisturized. Use a thick cream, oil, or petroleum jelly throughout the day, paying special attention to your cuticles—treat your nails like you would your wrinkles!

Here’s something I didn’t realize (and maybe I’m a little late to the game): you can buff and polish the ridges with a simple $8 tool that makes your nails smooth and shiny, almost like you’re wearing clear nail polish. I found a shape-and-shine tool on Amazon, and it’s like I have a brand new set of hands! Just be careful not to overdo the buffing, especially if your nails are on the thinner side.

Of course, painting your nails will also help cover up the ridges. Using a ridge-filling base coat can be especially effective, as it creates a smooth surface for your nail polish to adhere to, making it last longer too.